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Introduction: The neurotoxicity brought about by application of toxic and psychotropic substances is accompanied by an activation of astroglial and microglial cells in the brain., Materials and Method: We investigated clinically 42 patients addicted to psychotropic substances (hospitalised in the Motol Teaching Hospital). The NSE, S1OOB, and manganese concentrations in the blood were measured in the patients. In 14 deceased patients with drug evidence in the hair indicating a chronic abuse of addictive substances, the brain tissue glial cells were immunohistochemically labelled with antibody against CD68 and GFAP., Results: In 8 hospitalised patients, there were increased NSE, S100B values in the blood (p < 0.05). Manganese in the blood was increased (3,03±1,9 μg/l, p < 0,05) in all patients. In deceased persons, the CD68 positivity of microglial cells and neurophagy have been proved. GFAP positive astroglial cells have been evidenced in the gray and white matter., Conclusion: The CD68 and GFAP positive glial cells in brain tissue can be a pathomorphological correlate of neurotoxicity in chronic abusers. The neurotoxicity can be monitored with NSE and S100B markers of damaged neuronal cells.

Focal cerebral contusion can be dynamic and expansive. It has been proved that subsequent expansive contusion is caused by brain parenchyma damage, especially BBB damage. We investigated a group of patients with traumatic brain injury. The patients (n=18) were divided into group I (n=7) of patients submitted to neurosurgery due to expansive contusion, and group II (n=11) of patients without surgery. Serum concentrations of NSE and S-100B protein were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by chemiluminescent sequential immunometric assay and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9, MMP-2) were measured by immunoassays. Cortical biopsy specimens of brain were investigated by electron microscopy in patients with trauma brain injury submitted to neurosurgery. Biochemical investigation from first day up to third day after traumatic brain injury proved increased values of IL-6 (302.2+/-119.9 vs. 59.6+/-11.9 ng/l, p<0.02) and S-100B protein (3.064+/-1.064 vs. 0.649+/-0.182 microg/l, p<0.05) in patients with expansive lesion compared to patients without expansive contusion. Significantly higher levels of MMP-9 (150.4+/-28.46 vs. 74.11+/-13.16 ng/l, p<0.05) and of MMP-2 (814.5+/-126.3 vs. 523.1+/-25.28 ng/l, p<0.05) were found during first 3 days after admission in group I compared to group II. MMP-9 has also elevated in group II from lower values after admission (74.11+/-13.16 ng/l) up to high levels on the 10th day of hospitalization (225.1+/-49.35 ng/l). Ultrastructural investigation of endothelial cells and surrounded tissue revealed perivascular hemorrhage, increased pinocytic activity of endothelial cells, and cytotoxic edema of astroglial cells. Multivesical bodies were disclosed inside the endothelial cells. Higher levels of serum protein S-100B and IL-6 correlated with ultrastructural changes of endothelial cells, and with inflammatory response following TBI, respectively.